The Inconsistency in Female Sizing

A reliance on mass production within the fashion industry has led to a decline in both quality and reliability, particularly when it comes to female sizing. After all, the way we purchase, use and dispose of our clothing has changed drastically over the past 50 years thanks to a dependence on unsustainable methods and foreign labour.

Here at 2forjoy, we like to promote inclusivity which is why we recognise every body type and stock sizes 8-18. Read on to find out more about the absurd approach to female sizing in modern fashion production…

Sizing as a Marketing Tool

In order to understand the intricacy of female sizing, it is important to look at the changes over the years. After all, research shows that a size 8 in the 50’s is the equivalent of a modern day size 16. Many would argue that we are becoming bigger as a population however there is much more subtle ruse at play known as ‘Vanity Sizing’. This is where the companies intentionally change the measurements of clothing in order to appeal to consumers, making them believe they are a smaller size than they actually are. Since not all stores follow this deception, many women are faced with turmoil of purchasing size 8 jeans in one store and size 16 in another.

The ‘Plus Size’ Problem

Recently many companies have jumped on board the ‘plus size’ bandwagon is order to appeal to a consumer base that is obsessed with equality. Whilst it is important to recognise that every woman has a different body shape, these brands promote plus size clothing (that is made for women who wear size 16 and above) using size 8 models, showing that the industry is still yet to accept curvy women. In fact, plus size is the industry term for a model who wears size 8 and above clothing, which many argue is unethical and poor marketing.

Height vs Weight

The problem with average sizing in women’s clothing is that weight doesn’t always reflect height. After all, there are plenty of women that wear size 8 who cannot find trousers with enough length because they are taller than the average statistics dictate. This approach differs in comparison to men’s sizing which is guided by specific measurements in inches in order to guarantee a perfect fit, 9 times out of 10. After all, even the new small, medium and large sizing comes with a degree of accuracy.

The fast fashion approach to women’s sizing is not only problematic, it is contributing to the poor self esteem of many young girls who purchase clothing from these stores. In fact, research has shown that the sizing of women’s attire is not universal which means that companies are free to create their own system and this results in women wearing different sized clothing depending on the store the items are purchased from. Here at 2forjoy, we want women to feel confident and comfortable in the clothing they wear. After all, size is just a number! If you have any questions regarding the sizing of our slow fashion attire, get in contact with a member of the 2forjoy team today.